Most of the route is on rural roads and through villages, mainly flat with small hills. Technique required: HKCTA 3-star, i.e., not difficult but not suitable for beginners. Much of the route cannot be supported by bus, only by the mechanic’s truck, so there’s limited opportunity to bail out.

Capacity: 22 riders.

Fee: $1,590 per person based on double occupancy. Single room surcharge $175 for the weekend. Kids who don’t need a bed pay $1,420.

To register, please provide the following information by private e-mail to stevereels@mac.com :

1. Name in English and Chinese (if applicable) as on travel document

2. ID card number

3. Date of birth and age

4. Sex

5. Height in cm

6. Phone number

7. Hiring bike or taking own?

8. Emergency contact name/relationship/phone

9. E-mail address

To pay, transfer the appropriate amount to Hang Seng savings account 220-260525-882 (Reels Stephen James) and send the advice by November 3 to the address above.

If you haven’t paid by November 3 you’ll be removed from the tour and your place offered to somebody else. Places are reserved on a first-come first-served basis.

Enquiries: Steve Reels 69799511

Attention!

* Gathering point is outside the Futian customs/immigration/metro building on the Shenzhen side of the border at Lok Ma Chau (Futian) crossing next to Lok Ma Chau MTR station. This is different to the Lok Ma Chau (Huanggang) road crossing, so be smart. If you go to the wrong crossing you’ll miss the tour.

** If taking your own bike, take train or taxi to Lok Ma Chau MTR station and proceed to immigration. Private cars do not have access. There are car parks near Lok Ma Chau bus terminal and plenty of taxis around for the short trip to the station. You cannot ride there.

If you take the train you will have to remove your front wheel while on the MTR. Stations on the East Rail line are normally cool with bikes, but staff at Hong Kong and Kowloon stations will probably try to stop you.

Xiaoguan area, August 24-25, 2013

Lewis, Kieran and Hector. Note Lewis’s Marmite jersey

Watersport enthusiasts would have had a field day. Thunderstorms, aquaplaning, carnage on greasy slopes and white-water rafty thingy to end the weekend with a furious drenching. Yes, it was a cycling tour.

A traffic jam on Tolo Highway delayed all the nobs in their cars (i.e., the gweilos) so that after an hour of hands on hips and huffing we finally got away from Futian. Sky overcast but nothing threatening. As we drove north the clag set in, followed by thunder, lightning and sheeting rain. Thunderclaps directly overhead, visibility less than 100 metres. Our leader Stone announced cancellation of the morning 15km warm-up as we’d be soaked for lunch. And so we lunched dry, the rain eased off and we started riding. Stone mentioned that the afternoon’s “river floating experience” was off due to thunderstorm damage, but fear not, he had another one lined up for tomorrow.

We hit greasy greenway, a slippery menace. Going up a steep wooded section a couple of riders came off, but going down the other side was carnage, with cyclists going down everywhere in a mini domino effect. Bloodied and muddied we persevered and gradually things brightened, until we found ourselves on the lovely bit of greenway some of us had done a few years ago – we recognized the steps where Adrian bunny-hopped his way to a puncture. Showing off. Twice. There was a swollen weir, where KY came a cropper, and then the highest waterfall in the province. Whisper it – it’s fake. There was a stop for grass jelly and dau fu fa, and then Alan Chow decreed the day’s ride over. A bit light at 30km, but given the weather not too bad.

After dinner it was daipaidong time. We strolled along the glistening streets of Chonghua with nary a daipaidong in sight. Steve spied a hardware store with a fridge. “You got cold beer?” “Yes.” The proprietor produced a hobbit table and tiny stools, and 10 of us crammed round the table at the tiny shop entrance, crammed between mops and brooms. Lewis was incredulous. After 24 bottles of beer and Steve’s bottle of Famous Grouse, and four bowls of peanuts, we handed over the princely sum of RMB103 to the grinning proprietor and were on our way.

Back at the hotel, it was karaoke time. A room was procured, hostesses (dismissed immediately), peanuts, plates of cut fruit, meaty confections and another 24 beers for RMB700 – or RMB100 each for the Magnificent 7 of the hard core. Lewis did Eminem, Steve did Elvis, everybody did somebody, and at 2am we were chucked out. Bruce led the really hard core five down to the lobby, where we plundered the hotel fridge for – no! – more beer.

We were a sorry looking crew the next morning (or some of us were) but a pretty good breakfast set us up for the ride, but not before Adrian made the quip of the weekend about preserved black-and-green thousand-year-old horse-piss eggs: “Oh no! The horse has pissed all over the eggs again!” Meanwhile the sun was shining and delicate constitutions were easing into what would be a really nice, sunny, but too-short ride on elevated roads above lychee orchards. There is apparently 100km of this stuff out there, but we managed a mere 20 before lunch.

After scram we drove almost two hours north to Cowboy Valley. Images of cowboys sailing away into the sunset regaled us. There was a mountain stream and two-man zodiacs. We had to wear crash helmets (we kept our cycling hats on) and were advised to keep our arms and heads inside the dinghies. Then it was straight into the whitewater maelstrom, buffeted from pillar to post, bouncing off rocks and hanging on for dear life. Awesome!

Steve and KY

The ride was punctuated with serene sections where the protocol seemed to be to splash anybody that came in range. Bruce became a sort of fountain with arcs of water spraying from him all over the show. Then another white-knuckle drop after another until, after 4.5km and 100 metres of altitude loss, the ride ended.

Lantau Bike Hash Rescheduled for September 28

Trail: A to B. Start at Sunny Bay MTR station Exit A; finish near Tung Chung station MTR. Rambo trail around 30km, wimp trail around 20km

Getting there: MTR from Central station to Sunny Bay ( 30 minutes). Bikes are allowed on the MTR as long as you take off the front wheel. By car: Parking available at Sunguard Car Park on Sunny Bay Road on the left hand side as you drive down to Sunny Bay MTR station

For drivers: After the hash, drivers can take their bikes on a train from Tung Chung MTR to Sunny Bay MTR (10 minutes). If any driver wants to drop off their bike at Sunny Bay and then drive to Tung Chung to park their car and get a train back to the start – call Ruth for more details (see below)

Bike hire: $120, including transportation (rented bikes will be delivered to Sunny Bay by van, so booking is essential)

Hash fees: $40 for water at start and finish, beers and softies at finish. Additional charges for snacks. Circle from around 5pm. On-on nearby

If you are interested in this hash, please reply to Ruth Hunt before the cut-off date of September 21 (whether you’re hiring a bike or bringing your own) at: ruthhunthk@yahoo.com

Designed by mountain biker and graphic designer Steve Ellul, this retro-look cycling jersey is available in summer and winter fabric weights. It’s made of polyester and has a hidden 3/4-length front zipper, raglan sleeves, elasticated waist, three elasticated back pockets and interlock-stitched sleeves. Ladies’ cut and children’s sizes are available. The summer weight jersey is short sleeved while the winter weight comes both short and long sleeved. The summer shirt is, unsurprisingly, good for the warmer months while the winter shirt is a slightly heavier fabric, but not thick or fleece lined.

Click to enlarge

Prices

Summer jersey $410

Short sleeve winter jersey $370

Long sleeve winter jersey $426

Children’s jersey same as above

Sizing

The sizes are geared to local Hong Kongers and are on the small side, but the size range (up to 4XL) should cover most bods. The best thing is to find a shirt you like riding in and compare it to the size specs below.

Adult size spec – click to enlarge

Child size spec – click to enlarge

How to order

Click on the blue speech bubble at top right of this page and post a comment in the format

Name

Quantity

Size

Style (summer/winter short sleeve/winter long sleeve)

Cut (male/female – adult sizes only)

Amount payable* and payment method (by hand/ATM transfer)

Transfer the amount to me immediately either by hand or bank/ATM transfer to

It’s the May 18-19 Shekou Wonder Weekend – a bit of cycling, a bit of running, a bit of partying – and if you haven’t got your visa it’s too late now! Here are the timetables for those who want to join the main groups. It’s recommended that we keep together because most people will be visiting this part of town for the first time.

Cyclists

On Saturday, we’ll start riding from Futian Checkpoint at 2pm. Adrian Brock-Hollinshead will lead the way.

Allow 30 minutes from arrival at Lok Ma Chau station to clear PRC immigration, then meet at the front of the building outside the glass doors (where we gather for cycling tours).

The ride will take 1.5-2 hours depending on weather and numbers of pedestrians / other cyclists.

Check in to hotel about 4pm.

Snake Pit by 5.

Non-cyclists

On Saturday, meet at Fo Tan station at 12 noon. Dave Gow will be in charge.

After clearing PRC immigration at Futian Checkpoint, gather at the money changer at the bottom of the escalator. This is to meet anybody who’s making their way to Futian Checkpoint by a different route (not with the Tai Wo group).

It looks like there’s a barbecue on Saturday from 6pm, free for Snake Pit members and 50RMB for non-members.

For old members, you can probably pick up your new membership cards, so bring along your hairbrush and Brylcreem for the photo-op – or just bring a photo!

Sunday

Morning at leisure.

After check-out and lunch take the metro to Children’s Palace station and make your way to Exit E1, where the run starts.

If coming up from Hong Kong, take the Longhua Line from Futian Checkpoint to Children’s Palace (4 stops).

Cyclists can choose to ride to the run or take the bike on the metro (bikes are allowed on the metro with front wheel removed).

Note

I’m helping to set the run so will be leaving Shekou early with the other hares. If anybody wants to ride my bike to the run they’re most welcome. Otherwise I’ll be looking for somebody to wheel it there!

There’s a Shek Kong Hash weekend in Shekou coming up that may be of interest to some. Basically it consists of a Saturday afternoon waterfront ride of 20km from Futian (Lok Ma Chau) to Shekou, an evening on the town starting at the new Snake Pit, and a hash on Sunday afternoon in Futian using not a single public vehicular road and including shiggy. There are options to ride back from Shekou to Futian on Sunday or not to ride at all and just go over for the Saturday night booze-up and the Sunday hash. Remember that if you’re not Chinese you’ll need a visa.

Basic outline:

Saturday, May 18

Riders cross border at Futian for 20km coastal ride to the Snake Pit’s new premises

Ride to Snake Pit, night out in Shekou*, ride to Futian next day for hash**

Ride to Snake Pit, night out in Shekou, take Metro / taxi to hash with bike

Options for runners / non-runners

Go to Snake Pit by Metro or bus***, night out in Shekou, go to Futian for hash

Sunday afternoon go to Futian for hash (no stay)

* The nominated hotel is the Fuzon Hotel, which is about 100m from Shuiwan Metro station, 200m from the Snake Pit and 1km (or 1 metro stop) from Sea World. It’s new, clean and has a coffee shop and bar. Nearby there are other restaurants and bars. Riders that stay simply stow their bikes in their rooms. You can book through Agoda or C-Trip – both have rates at around HK$400 for a twin/double. Google “fuzon hotel shekou” and the first two entries are Agoda and C-Trip.

** The run starts at Children’s Palace metro station on the Longhua Line. From the hotel take the Shekou Line, Shuiwan station, to Futian or Civic Center, then change to the Longhua Line for one stop to Children’s Palace. For those just going for the Sunday, take the Longhua Line from Futian Checkpoint four stops to Children’s Palace. Note that Futian Checkpoint is a different station to Futian. For those with bikes, we have checked with the Metro and bikes can be taken on trains. As in Hong Kong, the front wheel must be removed.

***For most people the best way is to take the MTR to Lok Ma Chau station then walk over the pedestrian bridge to Futian. When you pass immigration you are delivered directly to Futian Checkpoint station. Take the Longhua Line 3 stops north to Civic Center, then change to the Shekou Line. Take this all the way to Shuiwan station. Check in to the hotel and stroll on down to the Snake Pit. You can also take the bus from Tuen Mun / Yuen Long to Shekou and make your own way to the hotel (Sea World is one metro stop from Shuiwan station). Taxi from Futian is a quicker option. Map:

Trail: A to B. Start at Sunny Bay MTR station Exit A; finish near Tung Chung station MTR. Rambo trail around 30km, wimp trail around 20km

Getting there: MTR from Central station to Sunny Bay ( 30 minutes). Bikes are allowed on the MTR as long as you take off the front wheel. By car: Parking available at Sunguard Car Park on Sunny Bay Road on the left hand side as you drive down to Sunny Bay MTR station

For drivers: After the hash, drivers can take their bikes on a train from Tung Chung MTR to Sunny Bay MTR (10 minutes). If any driver wants to drop off their bike at Sunny Bay and then drive to Tung Chung to park their car and get a train back to the start – call Ruth for more details (see below)

Bike hire: $120, including transportation (rented bikes will be delivered to Sunny Bay by van, so booking by May 17 is essential)

Hash fees: $40 for water at start and finish, beers and softies at finish. Additional charges for snacks. Circle from around 5pm. On-on nearby